Vacuum feed device for internal-combustion engines.



'. BAUMGAERNEH.

VACUUM mu DEVICE ma IMERNAL comaus'rrow mamas4 APPLICAHGN FRED MAY V3. V315.

Ianted Juy 25, 1916,.

2 SHEEYSMSHEET l.

vUNITED STATES PATENT oFFIoE.

FRIEDRICH W. BAUMGAERTNER, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO WINDSOR T.

WHITE, TRUSTEE, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

VACUUM FEED DEVICE FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES.

Application filed May 15, 1915.

T o all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, FRIEDRICH lV. BAUM- oAEnTNEn, a lsubject of the lEmperor of Germany, residing at Cleveland, 1n the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented a. certain new and useful Improvement in Vacuum Feed Devices for Internal- Colnbustion Engines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to devices which, when connected with some air exhausting device, as for example, the inlet side of an vinternal combustion engine, and with the carbureter therefor, and with a fuel supply tank located below said carbureter, will automatically draw liquid fuel from the sup ply tank, and deliver it as required to the carbureter.

The objects of the invention are to increase the storage capacity of such devices without increasing their size, to cheapen the cost of suchdevices, toV increase their etlicieney, and to render them less liable to get out of order orl todireak.

The invention consists in the construction and combination of parts shown in the drawings and hereinafter described and definitely pointed out in the appended claims. l

In the drawings, Figure l is a central vertical section of device embodying the invention when the parts are in the position they will occupy when the suction valve is closed; Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view which shows the device may be connected with the fuel supply tank, the carbureter, and the intake manifold of the motor; Fig. 3 is a scctional view like Fig. 1, except that it shows the position of the parts of the device when the suction valve is open; Fig. 4 is a sectional plan view in the plane indicated by line 4-4 on Fig. 3, and Fig. 5 is a plan view of the device.

Referring to the parts by letters, A represents the Storage tank which may be of any desired capacity. This must always be open to atmospheric pressure; and to effect this one 0f the bolts fm. which secures the cover E in place may be tubular. This has through its bottom a fuel dischargeopening- (L, with which the pipe c may be connected, whose other end may be connected with the carbu reter C. l represents a suction tank adapted to be connected by means of a pipe l) with `the inlet manifold M of the motor; and by Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented July 25, 1916.

serial No. 28,482.

means of a pipe R with the fuel supply tank.' l) represents the float chamber. These three parts, A, B and D, are shown as concentrically arranged, one within another; but this arrangement of these parts, while valuable from the manufacturingr viewpoint, is not at all essential to their successful cooperation with one another or with the other associated parts. lt is essential that the suction tank B shall be capable of dischargjfing.,r 4into the storage tank, A, through an Opening, as the pipe Q, havingr such a valve, as as will substantially prevent the liquid fuel from flowing in the reverse direction, and which will auton'iatically close and prevent the liquid from flowing out when there 1s a suflicient degree of vacuum in said suction tank. lt is also essential that the float chamber and the suction tank be relatively so located and so connected, that liquid fuel will run from the suction tank into the float chamber in substantially the manner hereinafter described, during' the lillirugr of said suction tank; and may run out of said float chamber while the suction tank is emptying.

ln the construction shown, the suction tank l5 has an outwardly extended flange b which extends over the top edge of the storv age tank and is clamped down upon the same by the cover ll, which thereby serves as the top of sa id storage tank. Preferably a packlng,r ring o is located above said flange b and between it and the cover. The suction tank is, therefore., substantially air-tight, except at the times and under the conditions hereina fter described.

'l`be cover ll and the float chamber l) are preferably cast in one piece, and in that event, to get the lloat F into the float chamber` the bottom d of said float chamber must be removable, as shown. There is a hushed hole Z2 through the bottom of this float chamber; and the upper end of this hole is in the form of a tapered valve seat adapted for cooperation with the tapered valve f on the bottom of the float. The cover ll is also formed with an inwardly directed centrally disposed tubular member c whose lower end is closed by the screw plug ll. ln this screw plopr are one or more air holes L., and also a centrally disposed hole/1, through which the valve stem (i passes and may slide, said valve stem being fixed to and projected upward from the float F. The upper end of this tubular membeec is closed byga screw plug made preferably of two parts J and K,

which, when, separately completed, are` fitted, friction tight, one within the other. Through the upper end of the part J is an air outlet hole j, which contains near, but preferably not at, its lower end, a tapered valve seat for cooperation with the tapered valve g on the upper end of the valve stem (i. The upper end of this hole j is preferably threaded Vto facilitate the connection 'lu-reto of the pipe P, which, as before nitetl, is also connected at its outer end with the inlet manifold of the motor. There is --I o in the part K a hole k3, which is in ilueiuent with the hole j, and likewise withthe hole h in the plug H. The valve stem (i passes through these three holes and may slide in them. The upper end of the valve stem adjacent to the valve seat g rather nicely fits in the lower end ofthe hole below the tapered valve seat therein, and it a'lso nicely fits in the hole k3 in the art K. In the part J is an air duct ja, which communicates at its upper end with an external annular groove j* in said part, and at its lower end with a transversely extended air duct It in the part K, which duct also cotnmunicates with the hole la". When the float F is up to the position such that the valve g is closed, the interior of the suction tank will be in open commi nication with the atmosphere through' th"l groove j, the duct the duct k2, the hble k3 (in which' atnt e time is a reduced part g of the valvelstem G), and then through the air duct h. There is also a vertical air duct k down through the part K. lVhen, as stated, the float F is down', the valve f is seated, the valve g is open, an

"therefore the device is connected upwith the air exhausting means, viz., as' shown, with the inlet manifold of the motor. Therefore, the motor, on its siictioi.; strokes, withdraws air from the suction tank arid from the float chamber. At this time the air vinlet is closed .by the valve stem G which now fills'the lower end of the hole lc Aand covers the in'ner end of the air duct k. Therefore, as air is withdrawn from the suction tank a partial vacuum therein will be produced, and this will cause the fuel to flow through the pipe R from the supply tank T into the suction tank. In the preferred construction, the partsI will remain x in these positions, and the device will act in the manner stated until the f uel level in the suction tank rises above 'thetop of the float chamber. Then the fuel will' rush into the ont chamber, and ,cause the lioat to rise enough to lift the valve F from its seat. The fuel thcreafter'willnot only flow over the top of the 'float "chamberfbut will also enter the float chamber through the hole d with the net result that the oat will ve quickly rise to its highest position, This 'valve g from its seat, and the will result in almost immediate upward movement of the float from its lowest to its highest position, and the consequent movement of the associated shown in Fig. 1, in which the suction valve g is closed, wherefore the device is discon'- nected from the motor. At the saine time the interior of the suction tank has beenrput into communication with the atmosphere, because the reduced lpart g of the valve stem is now in the lower end of the hole k, and opposite the inner end of the air duct k2. The inrushing air will very shortly l'estore atmospheric pressure in the suction tank and float chamber. Thereupon theV valve g which Vis on the lower end of the discharge pipe Q secured to the bottom of the suction tank will open from the pres: sure of fuel against it, and said fuel will run out of the suction tank into the storage tank A. At this time also the valve f is open, and fuel will run out of the float chamber. Thehole d2 through which the fuel so flows is rather small, wherefore the suction tank will practically empty itself before enough of the fuel has run out of thefloat chamber to allow the float to fall. ln fact, the suc-A tion pull on the seated valve g at the upper end of the valve stem G will hold the float up until the floaty chamber is practical] empty. Then the weight of the float wi -l overcome this suction pull, will. dra

w15 fall arts to the position.'

the

to the bottom of thefloat chamber. There by the parts will `be restored to the position" first described, as shown in Fig. 3, in which,

as stated, the interior of the ,suction tank is' no longer in communication with the air xhausting means'.

A In Fig. 3 a small hole d* is shown going through' the wall of the' float chamber near its lower end. If this holev is place it must be so small that t e fuel' can not flow fuel level in the float 'chamber as high as in the suction tank. Or, in other words, the rate of iow of fuel into the float chamber must be so slow that the fuel level in the suction tank will rise more rapidly than in the float chamber. Therefore, althou h the float will slowly rise in the float cham r, it will not vget high enough to operate valves as stated until the suction tank is nearly full. Thishole is not necessary, but if 'small enough is not objectionable,-but

even if the hole is there', the top of the float I chamber had better be open as described so that if the fuel in the suction tank rises above the top ofthe float chamber it may flow into the same'and sure that thelloat operates in time to operate the valves before i any fuel can be drawnout of the vsuction tank through the air outlet.

It `will be understood that the-invention,

in its broader aspects, is not dependentupcn l the particular valve mechanism shown, nor on the particular arrangement of air inlet and air outlet ports.

Any suitable arrangement of air inlet ports and float controlled air exhaust ports and valves may' be substituted for those shown, without departure from the inventien, provided the construction and arrangement of the suction tank, float chamber and fioatare substantially as described so as to produce the described operation and results. The particular construction shown, however, is a good manufacturing construction for the attainment of the desired results at a. minimum cost, and involves certain minor but patentable features.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. In a vacuum feed device, the combination of a suction tank having an air outlet adapted for connection with an air exhauster, an air inlet, a liquid inlet adapted for connection with a supply tank, and a liquid outlet, a valve for said liquid outlet, a suction valve for said air outlet, which valve moves outwardly to its seat, a fioat chamber which communicates with the suction tank, which float chamber has also a liquid outlet in its lower end, a float in said float chamber, and means connecting said float with said suction valve.

2. In a vacuum feed device, the combina tion of a suction tank havingan air outlet adapted for connection with an air exhauster, anair inlet, a liquid inlet adapted for connection with a supply tank, and a liquid outlet, a valve for said liquid outlet, a suction valve for said air outlet which valve moves outwardly to its seat, a fioat chamber which communicates with the suction tank, which float chamber has also a liquid outlet in its lower end. an outlet valve for said fioat chamber, a float in said fioat chamber, and means connectingl said float with said suction valve and Hoat chamber outlet valve.

3. ln a vacuum feed device, the combination of a suction tank having an air outlet adapted for connection with an air exhauster, an air inlet, a liquid inlet adapted for connection with a supply tank, and a liquid outlet, a valve for said liquid outlet, a suction valve for said air outlet which valve moves outwardly to its seat, a float chamber which communicates with the suc.- tion tank, wl'iich ioat chamber has also a liquid outlet in its lower end, an outlet valve for said float chamber, an air valve for the air inlet to said suction chamber. a float in said float chamber. and meansl connecting said float with said suction valve, the air valve. and float chamber outlet valve.

4. In a vacuum feed device, theAombination of a suction tank having an air outlet adapted for connection with an airl exhauster, an air inlet, a liquid inlet adapted for connection with a supply tank. and a liquid outlet. a valve for said liquid outlet, a suction valve for said air outlet which valve moves outwardly to its Seat. a float chamber havingr a large liquid inlet which communicates with the suction tank at a point such that the fioat chamber will be suddenly flooded when the liquid level in said suction tank reaches a predetermined height. which lioat chamber has also a liquid outlet in its lower end, a float in said float chamber, and means connecting said float with said suction valve, and a storage. tank subject always to atmospheric pressure and arranged to receive liquid discharged through the liquid outlets of the suction tank and float chamber.

5. In a vacuum feed device, the combination of a suction tank having a fuel inlet, a fuel outlet, an air inlet, and an air outlet,

,an open top float chamber which is fixed in said suction tank, and has a fuel outlet in its bottom, a float in said chamber having a valve for said fuel outlet on its bottom, an upwardly extended valve stem which is fixed to said float and extends upward therefrom in alinement with said air outlet from the suction tank, and has a valve formed on its upper end for closing said air outlet.

6. ln a vacuum feed device, the Combination of a storage tank which is always open to atmospheric pressure, an air tight suction tank within said storage tank, having an air outlet port adapted for connection with an air exhauster, ,an air inlet port, a fuel inlet adapted for connection With a source of fuel supply. and a fuel outlet, a valve for said outlet` an open top float chamber fixed within the storagel tank havinar a i'uel outlet in its bottom, a float in said float chamber, a ialvc on the bottom of said lloat for closing the fuel outlet, a valve stem fixed to the float and extending upward therefrom and havingr valves thereon for closing;Y the air outlet and opening' the air inlet when the float is in its uppermost position, and for closing the air inlet and opening' the air outlet when the loat is in its lowest position. i

7. ln a vacuum feed device, the combination of a suction tank havinar a fuel outlet in its bottom. a cover therefor and an open top float chamber havingr a fuel outlet hole through it, said cover being formed with a fuel inlet, an air inlet. and an air outlet adapted for connection with an air exhauster. a float in said lloat chamber, a valvel stem fixed to and projectingf upward from said float having a valve on its upper end .7, *for closlng said alr outlet, and a valve lixedl/f/ tothe bottom of said lloat for closingr thel fuel outlet hole. in the bottom of the float cha mbei'.

R. ln a -vacuum feed device, the combina.- tion of a suction tank having a fuel outlet,

un inwardly closing valve therefor, a, cover removably secured to said suction tank and formed with an inwardly directed tbular member, and an open top float chamber rigidly fixed to said cover, a plug closing the lower end of said tubular member, a. plug closing the upper end f said member, which` plugs contain vertical guide holes,

v:i float in said float chamber, a valve stem fixed to said float and extending up through said guide hole, en air outlet through said plug which is in alinement 'with said guide hole, and is adapted for connection with an air exhauster, en air inlet which at its innerend communicates with said guide hole,

said valve stem having on itsA upper end a valve for closing said air outlet, and hav ing a recess in its side adjacent to said air 1n e t, said recess being so placed that when the air outlet valve is closed airmay flow into the suction tank through the air in FRIEDRICH w. BAUMGAEBTNER.

Witnesses:

W. W. CHASE, E. L. THUBsToN. 

